T JCall me negative, but canít see the above adding what is needed to our squad to keep us up next year.
Squad is currently a long way short of Prem quality, and I donít see these rumoured signings changing that.

I've not seen them enough to comment but there are many players who have been plucked from the championship and have gone on to quickly be regular Premiership first teamers and even England players. Shaun Perry of this parish for one. Here's hoping there's a few diamonds among that lot.

expectingrainOur current Front Five will not be good enough to survive in the Prem end of.

But our front five for next season would probably be Thomas Thacker Afoa Muldowney and Vui. Afoa proven international class, Thomas known as a strong scrummager and Muldowney seems to be an experienced campaigner with a 'bit of dog' hopefully. These championship props could be third/fourth choices, not sure most premier sides have top quality third/fourth choices.

These signings are surely cover for the other competitions and/or to quietly improve their game alongside the matchday squad as they have shown promise this season to see if we uncover a diamond or two in the rough?

I cant see PL just assuming the champ players hes never coached would be apart of his 1st choice match day squad for next season.

I think any promoted champ team would be foolish not to hand pick what they consider the best talent in the champ to take up with them. Out of our current squad NFW and Hurrell strike me as two we signed in such circumstances who have gone on to be very useful players (as well as Hurrell currently starting for the team 5th in the prem)

There seems to be an obsession by some on this board with signing current internationals.

As I posted on a previous thread, that's the last thing we want. We need guys who are likely to be available to us all season. There is also a question of affordability within the salary cap to be considered.

PL has had a good opportunity this season to see what is available in the Championship and whilst I don't wish to do a 'Hilly knows best', I do, currently, have confidence in him and the other coaches to see potential in abilities and character of some of the opposition this season.

As youngone says above, these guys will carry on alongside the first choice players be coached and allowed to develop and subsequently make their mark.

If you look at the, very useful, other thread you can see how the squad with confirmed signings is shaping up. Clearly, it's not the same as the current team.

PL will be looking at the effectiveness of the units he is creating.

His new front row of afoa/thacker/Thomas have performed at mid upper level premiership before.

Muldowney and vui/Joyce would also hold their own as a unit. As would the new flanker, Thomas and lautua in the back row.

With C Puitua and this year's backs I would think that we are just maybe a wing or a centre off being a very well balanced side.

If you look at the other thread and add in the rumoured signings from Ealing then compare the possible first team to the team we had in the summer of the last venture to the top table.

I remember at that time talking to ex Bristol player friends over a few beers and we couldn't work out whether AR was deluded and believed his team was good enough or whether he hadn't been given the funds to recruit.

If you compare the possible team already signed to that last team then we look stronger in pretty nearly every position.

thorpebayexileI remember at that time talking to ex Bristol player friends over a few beers and we couldn't work out whether AR was deluded and believed his team was good enough or whether he hadn't been given the funds to recruit.

I think it was neither, I think players simply didn't want to play for him.

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